Display case



Oct. 22, 1929. v, HlLL 1,732,472.

DISPLAY CASE Filed April 12, 1929 (I \Vi 7 I E, E5 5 Q U U U (WTUTRRYOUTTCTT) (Y1) 2 \Y Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLEMENT V. HILL, OF TREN'ION, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO 0. V. HILL & ('10., INC., TBI'INTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY DISPLAY CASE Application filed April 12,

In displaycases, especially those designed as display cases, it is very desirable to use the a greatest possible amount of capacity of the display portion of the case for dlsplaying a goods, and the primary expedient used to obtain this maximum display is a sliding shelf which is customarily mounted on brackets within the display chamber. This sliding shelf has been found to be objectionable in that it frequently binds, locks or sticks on its supports thereby making it very difficult to move the shelf back and forth on its support. In display cases of this kind it is customary to dress the case with display cases on the main shelf during which operation it is the practice to move the sliding shelf toward the front of the case so as to make it easier to dress the main portion of the case. After the lower portion of the case is dressed this supplemental or sliding shelf is moved to a position convenient for dressing with goods to be displayed and then moved to about the center of the case so that while the goods on the sliding shelf will be properly displayed the display of the goods on the main shelf or bottom of the case will not be obstructed by the sliding shelf.

The object of my invention is to provide a sliding shelf for cases of this character provided with means which will prevent it from binding, locking, or sticking fast on its supports; and with this and other objects in view my invention consists of the parts and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical transfer section through a portion of the display case embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of my improved shelf with its supports.

Figure 3 is a front view of Figure 2 broken away at one corner.

Figure 4: is an end view of my improved shelf, portions being broken away.

The reference numeral 1 designates a display case of approved design and structure,

having the front glass channels 2 and the rear sliding doors 3. Said case has a suitfifl able refrigerating element 4 beneath which 1929. Serial No. 354,624.

is a drop pan 5 on each side of which are arranged suitable guards 5. The case is provided with a support 6 on which display trays 7 are mounted at the bottom of the display chamber. Within the display chamber are brackets 8 provided with a trackway 9 hav mg bearing surfaces 10 and 11 at right angles to each other, there being a stop 12 at the front end of the trackway.

My improved shelf comprises a suitable frame 13 having a bottom 14 which may, if desired, be removable. The frame 13 may be of any suitable construction. Secured at each end of the frame 13 is a box like housing 15 having top, bottom and two side walls, as clearly shown in Figure 3, the outside side wall of each housing being provided with apertures 16 while the bottom walls of the housing are provided with the apertures 17. Rollers 18 are mounted on horizontally disposed journals 19 within the housing and project beyond the bottom Wall of the housing as further shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, and are designed to bearthe weight of the shelf and goods displayed thereon, and said rollers 18 hearing on the track surface 11. Rollers 20 are journalled in the housing 15 on verti cally disposed journals 21 and project through the apertures 16 beyond the outside side wall of the housing, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, and bear on their vertical bearing surface 10 of the track.

It will be noted from Figure 2 that the housings 15 which are secured at the ends of the frame of the shelf, 13 are longer than the shelf is wide, that is to say,- the end portions of the boxes 15 project a substantial distance beyond the front and the rear edges of the shelf whereby a substantially broad bearing for the shelf is given through the rollers 20 on the track and inasmuch as these rollers 20 are disposed beyond the front and rear edges of the shelf 13 the shelves will not bind, lock. or stick, or become tangent on the track whereby the shelf may be moved readily by grasping at either end, or at the center and manipulate it during the dressing of the display case.

In actual commercial use I have found this improved shelf to be a decided advan- 100 tage, and it has met with the approval of customers.

It, of course, will be readil seen that the end thrust on the shelf is ta en care of by 5 the rollers 20 causing the shelf to move without friction. The track is also provided with a rear stop 21.

With a full vision case that is glass from one endto the other without a break, it is necessary to have the supporting brackets 8 fastened to the back of the case only so that one viewing the goods on display in the case from the front of the case will have an unobstructed vision of the display goods in the case.

It is, of course, obvious that the width of the shelf relative to the length of the roller housings may be changed to suit the desires of a customer.

When small jars, bottles and packages are displayed on the shelf it is very necessary that the shelf move without binding, because if the shelf is caught fast while trying to move it such articles would upset or topple What I claim is:

In adisplay cabinet, a shelf, trackways for the shelf, and a box like member secured to each end of the shelf with its ends rojecting beyond the front and rear edges 0 the shelf,

-rollers pivotally mounted on a vertical axis within the box like member and projecting through apertures beyond the side walls of the box member to engage a trackway, beyond the front and rear edges of the body of the shelf, and rollers pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis in the box member, and engaging a trackway, the last named rollers being positioned between the front and rear edges of the shelf body;

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLEMENT V. HILL. 

